The Dipeptide Gly-Pro (GP), Derived from Hibiscus sabdariffa, Exhibits Potent Antifibrotic Effects by Regulating the TGF-ß1-ATF4-Serine/Glycine Biosynthesis Pathway.

TGF-ß1, a key fibrotic cytokine, enhances both the expression and translocation of the activating transcriptional factor 4 (ATF4) and activates the serine/glycine biosynthesis pathway, which is crucial for augmenting collagen production. Targeting the TGF-ß1-ATF4-serine/glycine biosynthesis pathway might offer a promising therapeutic approach for fibrotic diseases. In this study, we aimed to identify a proline-containing dipeptide in Hibiscus sabdariffa plant cells that modulates collagen synthesis. We induced Hibiscus sabdariffa plant cells and screened for a proline-containing dipeptide that can suppress TGF-ß1-induced collagen synthesis in fibroblasts. Analyses were conducted using LC-MS/MS, RT-qPCR, Western blot analysis, and immunocytochemistry. We identified Gly-Pro (GP) from the extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa plant cells as a dipeptide capable of suppressing TGF-ß1-induced collagen production. GP inhibited the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and reduced the expression of ATF4, which is upregulated by TGF-ß1. Notably, GP also decreased the expression of enzymes involved in the serine/glycine biosynthesis and glucose metabolism pathways, such as PHGDH, PSAT1, PSPH, SHMT2, and SLC2A1. Our findings indicate that the peptide GP, derived from Hibiscus sabdariffa plant cells, exhibits potent anti-fibrotic effects, potentially through its regulation of the TGF-ß1-ATF4-serine/glycine biosynthesis pathway.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Assay for Genetic Identification of Lophophora williamsii.

Lophophora is a member of the Cactaceae family, which contains two species: Lophophora williamsii and L. diffusa. Lophophora williamsii is an illegal plant containing mescaline, a hallucinogenic alkaloid. In this study, a novel method based on a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay was developed for identifying L. williamsii; this assay reliably detects SNPs within chloroplast DNA (rbcL, matK, and trnL-trnF IGS) and was validated for identifying Lophophora and L. williamsii simultaneously. The chloroplast DNA sequences from four L. williamsii and three L. diffusa plants were obtained and compared using DNA sequence data from approximately 300 other Cactaceae species available in GenBank. From this sequence data, a total of seven SNPs were determined to be suitable for identifying L. williamsii. A multiplex assay was constructed using the ABI PRISM® SNaPshot™ Multiplex Kit (Applied Biosystems, Forster City, CA) to analyze species-specific SNPs. Using this multiplex assay, we clearly distinguished the Lophophora among 19 species in the Cactaceae family. Additionally, L. williamsii was distinguished from L. diffusa. These results suggest that the newly developed assay may help resolve crimes related to illegal distribution and use. This multiplex assay will be useful for the genetic identification of L. williamsii and can complement conventional methods of detecting mescaline.

p-wave resonant bose gas: a finite-momentum spinor superfluid.

We show that a degenerate gas of two-species bosonic atoms interacting through a p-wave Feshbach resonance (as realized in, e.g., a (85)Rb -- (87)Rb mixture) exhibits a finite-momentum atomic-molecular superfluid (AMSF), sandwiched by a molecular p-wave (orbital spinor) superfluid and by an s-wave atomic superfluid at large negative and positive detunings, respectively. The magnetic field can be used to tune the modulation wave vector of the AMSF state, as well as to drive quantum phase transitions in this rich system.